The Ministry of Land Management, Cooperatives, Federal Affairs and General Administration has circulated a recommendation from the Commission for the Investigation of Abuse of Authority (CIAA) concerning the appointment of legal advisers and procurement of legal consultancy services by local governments. The ministry’s letter, dated Asar 32, 2083, asks all local levels to implement the recommendation and provide progress information as required.
The CIAA recommendation arose from a case involving Tarkeshwor Municipality in Kathmandu, where questions were raised over the appointment of legal advisers to different posts and the payment of fixed remuneration. The commission highlighted the need to prevent local governments from appointing legal advisers outside prescribed procedures or purchasing legal consultancy services without sufficient justification.
The commission has recommended that, whenever a local government needs to appoint a legal adviser or procure legal advisory services, it must comply with prevailing legal provisions and assess the office’s actual workload, operational need and justification before engaging additional personnel or services. The federal administration ministry has been asked to communicate this approach to all local governments so that unnecessary appointments and spending can be controlled.
The directive is intended to improve financial discipline, lawful recruitment and accountability in local administration, ensuring that public funds are used for legal services only where there is a demonstrable institutional need rather than as a routine or discretionary appointment.
